Sunday, January 31, 2016

After spending most of the past two days submerged in
homework with a large publishing and distribution project, I decided that I
needed to take a break and watch something to help motivate me. After some
debate, I decided to watch the 2011 sci-fi mystery Day 6 (AKA Alien Exorcism).

Plot/ Dr. Davide studies the alien abductions. From the
abductees under hypnosis, he has understood that some alien races have been
installing, for millennia, their active memories in the people's brains, to
exploit a special energy: the Soul.

While I had no idea what to expect with this movie, I was
definitely surprised to find such a diverse mixture in the storyline. Also
known as Alien Exorcism, Day 6 is a movie that manages to combine the alien
mythos with religion in a way that is entertaining. It was definitely a
different look at possession and alien abductions and it was an intriguing and
modern take on the concepts. Overall, while there was really nothing new, the
performances, the cinematography, and the subject matter made it a good watch,
even at the extended run time. Yes, the audio quality was uneven, and some of
the early portions of the movie seemed disjointed as they built the storyline,
it was not enough to bring this one down. In the end, this is an underrated
movie that is entertaining and should appeal to many people who are fans of the
different genres. While this is not groundbreaking, give it a shot; you may
enjoy it.

Friday, January 29, 2016

After some sci-fi last night, I decided to venture out to Family
Video to see what came out this week. Fortunately, there were a few newer
movies that I had not seen. One of the first flicks that I picked up was the
2015 sequel, Sinister 2.

Plot/ Following the events from the first film, a different
family; a mother and her 2 sons move into a rural house that is marked for
death. When the deputy from the first film learns that this family is next in
line to fall to the demon Bhughul, he races before time to stop it and save
them from the same fate.

Sequels are always hot or cold, and sometimes face the
impossible task of building into a developed storyline. While this one is not
the worst sequel, it is also not the best one to come out. Sinister 2 has an
interesting storyline, and develops as a solid continuation from the source
material. In fact, the potential is there to take this one beyond the original,
but somewhere it loses focus, and never reaches that point. The scripting is
decent, the visuals dark (especially the 8 mm scenes), and there is some
uniqueness to the idea. Unfortunately, the atmosphere is inconsistent, the
performances uneven, and there are too many attempts at jump scares that miss
the mark or are at predictable spots in the story. In the end, this one may not
match the overall quality of the original, but it is not a terrible movie and
has some entertaining moments. Personally, I did not think Sinister needed a
sequel, and that could be one of the reasons this movie did not fully resonate
with me, but that is me. If you loved the first one, give this one a shot, you
may feel the same as I do, or you may just love it!

Thursday, January 28, 2016

I spent last night entranced by the sounds of the Beatles
and the visual trip Across the Universe, so I decided that I needed to venture
back into some type of horror or sci-fi for the evening. After some debate, I
decided on the 2015 sci-fi entry Parallels.

Plot/ this is the story of a small band of people traveling
across parallel earths. An estranged brother and sister, Ronan and Beatrix
Carver, who are looking for their father, lead the group. What they discover is
that their family is shattered across multiple earths. The question is: can
they put their family back together again?

Sometimes you watch something, and realize how hard it is to
turn a pilot into a series. That fact becomes completely obvious after watching
this one. Parallels is an amazing pilot episode and is a series that should be
made. As with many pilots, there are many unanswered questions left dangling,
but that is exactly what is supposed to happen in this scenario. Yes, it is not
perfect, but it is an entertaining sci-fi journey into different worlds and
dimensions and a show that would definitely appeal to fans of Sliders or
Fringe. In the end, this movie was fun to watch and left me wanted to see more.
Here is hoping that comes true and that Parallels is not a pilot left
unfinished; some company must make this into the series it was meant to be. If you have not watched it, it is streaming on Netflix, so give it a shot.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

After taking a break from the blog last night, I decided
that I needed to watch something extremely different tonight, as I have been
overly submerged in darkness for some time not. After some debate, and a quick
search of Netflix, I decided on something extremely different, and one of my
favorite musicals, Across the Universe from 2007.

Plot/ The music of the Beatles and the Vietnam War form the
backdrop for the romance between an upper-class American girl and a poor artist
from Liverpool.

As some already may realize, I do have some diverse tastes in my
movie selections, and this is one of my favorites that sit outside of the
horror or sci-fi genres. While this is not a textbook movie and it has many
flaws with some pacing issues, weak character development, and some of it may
feel a touch forced, but that does nothing to truly bring down the experience.
Yes, it is not perfect, but it is both beautiful and captivating, and features
some of the best interpretations of classic Beatles songs that you will find.
Couple that with some intense and vivid visuals, an interesting storyline that
captured the turmoil of the era, and an emotional tone that will definitely
strike a chord with many viewers (but also turn some viewers off). In the end,
this may not be the best musical out there, and it may be somewhat polarizing,
but if you kick back and embrace the creativity, you will experiences something
amazing. Check it out.

Monday, January 25, 2016

After spending some time this weekend with the snow, a
mind-bending trip in Deep Dark, a couple hours with the Rocky Horror Picture
Show, and the return of the X-Files, I decided to venture into something a
little different tonight. After some debate, I decided upon the 2015 entry Fire
City: End of Days.

Plot/ Vine, a disillusioned demon, secretly lives with
others of his kind in the world of humans sustained by their misery. Forced
into a choice to save his brethren or an innocent human girl, the delicate
balance between human and demon kind is threatened, which may result in war.

At first, I had no idea what to expect from this movie, as
it started off both interesting and confusing (really confusing). What I found
after the initial confusion though was something much better than I expected
from the meager budget (listed as $200,000). The story is both original and
unique, the special effects are amazing, the atmosphere is heavy, and the
cinematography is interesting and dark. Now, I am sure that the confusing
scripting early on will turn some people off or keep them from embracing the
true depth of what is taking place, but those are but minimal flaws in the
realm of low budget b-movie cinema. In the end, this one was much better than I
imagined when I picked it up at Family Video. If you are looking for something
with some visual flair and are not afraid to tread down a strange spiral, give
this one a shot, this one is definitely worth watching.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

With the natural snow fort set up around the perimeter of
the house from digging out yesterday, it left me times to watch a few different
movies last night. While I did not pull an all-nighter, I did squeeze in a
couple from the selections I grabbed at Family Video before the blizzard hit.
Next up is a movie that I truly cannot classify, the 2015 trip into the surreal
Deep Dark.

Plot/ A failed sculptor discovers a strange, talking hole in
the wall. It has the power to fulfill his wildest dreams...and become his worst
nightmare.

Yes, that about sums up the plot for this intriguing gem.
Honestly, I am still trying to figure out exactly what genre I should place
this mind bender into, as it is one of the most thought-provoking and original
films I have seen in some time, but it definitely does not fit squarely into
any specific genre. Part fantasy, part, horror, and dare I say part comedy,
this one takes you places that you will never expect, and creates an entertaining
trip into the surreal. This low budget entry is better than most, featuring
solid performances, strange originality, and amazing soundtrack, atmosphere,
and some top-flight cinematography. Yes, there are some confusing moments and
non linear actions, which could be a turnoff, and the ending may not be for
everyone, but for me these only added to the impressive story that was
unfolding. In the end, this was an incredible journey, and a movie that had
enough strangeness to make me want more. Check this one out!

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Winter Storm Jonas appears to have come and went with a
bang, leaving behind roughly two feet of snow behind for us to deal with.
Fortunately, it was not worse, and I was able to maneuver around town a couple
times today. Now, it is time to curl up and spend the night watching some
horror. First up for review tonight is the 2014 found footage flick, Hollows Grove.

Plot/ A young filmmaker documents his ghost-hunting, reality
show friends as their routine investigation of an abandoned orphanage turns
into a nightmare from which they can't escape.

What could be better than watching low budget horror
featuring Lance Henrikson during a blizzard? OK, I can think of a bunch of
things that could be better, but those are not readily available tonight as we
recover from Winter Storm Jonas. Actually, Hollows Grove was not a bad
consolation. While this found footage flick is not perfect with some uneven
performances (Maybe even subpar performances) and predictable moments, there
was a lot to like. This movie featured a solid storyline that was actually
rather layered for the found footage genre, the atmosphere was rather creepy at
times, and for a found footage flick it is actually somewhat entertaining. In
the end, this is a decent example of how found footage could work. Is it
perfect, no, but it is also one of the better low budget examples to come out
in some time. I would not run out and buy it, but if you have some time on a
winters afternoon, give it a shot.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Yes, I have been struggling trying to find something decent
to watch. Now, being stuck in the house for the evening as the snow falls
outside from this projected blizzard, I could only hope one of my five rentals
from Family Video would hit the spot. My first selection for the evening is the
2014 micro-budget vampire flick, Queen of
Blood.

Plot/ Vampire Irina is reborn as a bloodthirsty plague, a
force of nature whose destiny is to lay waste to a fever dream vision of the
Wild West.

After suffering through some really bad low budget flicks, I
was excited to find something that was both low budget and extremely different.
More of a macabre art house trip into the surreal than true vampire flick, this
one is definitely not for everyone. While it does feature a heavy mood, subtle
pacing that allows it to grow, the storyline is not cliché riddled, and an
amazing soundscape that adds some haunting elements to the atmosphere, the lack
of dialog (yes – no dialog) will surely lead to most of the hatred for the
film. Amazingly, the performances are decent, and the cinematography is eerie
and at times thought provoking (iPhones can do some great work). Plus, any
movie with Nivek Ogre from Skinny Puppy cannot be bad, can it? In the end, as a
fan of art house cinema, this film struck a chord and drew me in. While I am sure
that I am likely in the minority, I love this one and will definitely search
for the first entry, Blood for Irina,
and check that one out.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Today was a rough day, as something that I had hoped for did
not quite fall into place, and coming to terms with that has not been easy. In
time, I am sure I will let everything set in, but it may take some time to fully
grasp. Because of this, I wanted something mindless to help pass my evening,
and what could be better for mindless entertainment than Paranormal Activity:
The Ghost Dimension from 2015.

Plot/ Using a special camera that can see spirits, a family
must protect their daughter from an evil entity with a sinister plan.

I knew I was taking a risk by watching this one, as honestly, I have not been one of the biggest fans of the series. Unfortunately, I am a sucker and seceded to give it a shot, and just like last night, I should have gone in a different direction. This may be hard to believe, but this one may be the worst film in the franchise, and actually did not feel like it belonged with the others. The performances are uneven, the storyline and scripting predictable and somewhat clichéd, and there are truly no scares what so ever. In fact, there is nothing memorable at all in this film, and it definitely felt as though it was forced. In the end, there is nothing worth watching and this film, and you should stay away. We can all just hope that this was indeed the final entry in the franchise; it has to end!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

After doing some writing last night to honor the great Edgar
Allan Poe on his birthday, I had planned to venture into the world of David
Lynch to celebrate his birthday. Unfortunately, my daughter Jillian wanted to
instead watch The Martian. While I gave it, I should have stayed true to my
plan, it would have been more entertaining.

Plot/ During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney
is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney
has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With
only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit, and spirit to
subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.

This was a movie that my daughter was excited about, and
unfortunately, it left us both somewhat dissatisfied. From Ridley Scott, we
both knew going in that the scenery and cinematography would be amazing, and it
was. However, that is about the extent of what was worth watching. There was
almost zero atmosphere, the characterizations felt flat and uninspired, and the
storyline could have definitely been cut back to keep this in the two hour
range. Honestly, there was nothing new or redeeming about this flick at all,
and it took up too much time. In the end, the Sci-Fi entry misses the mark and
could have been ignored all together. If you love Matt Damon, maybe you should
watch it, but in you aren’t stay away; this is categorically NOT a Ridley Scott
classic.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Today is the anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe, and if you are familiar with this blog or me as a person, you would already understand the meaning. In honor of Poe, I decided to write a pastiche of Spirits of the Dead, to commemorate this important day. Poe has always been one of the major influences in my life, and without him, I probably would not write, and without writing, I would definitely be insane.

Stillness overwhelms the vile depths,
Reverie smothers the calm-but still

The forgotten rise and roam the abyss
Their hunger stronger than their will
Dreams overthrow the tyrants-solitude unbound
Calmness swallows thy heart: judgments unwound.

III

The gate, sacred seals, horses rise-
And the dead walk with souls despised
Foretold by scripture and desires once lost,
Mortal fears and open wounds survive the crossed-
Blessed implements stained by blood, opened doors,
For the path to salvation rose upon unseen shores
The chasm burns and the pure follow
Forsaken by seraphim set adrift in the shallows.

IV

Words are but verses that shall be composed,
Verses are but visions that must be transposed,
Revelations feed doubts; emptiness breeds fright
Choices wither- and reservations survive, at least for a night.

V

The truths- and the tainted flesh-cannot hide-
The souls of the damned drowned by pride,
Ancient riddles difficult to perceive,
An unfamiliar destiny left for me to conceive-
How this grew-an opportunity or prediction left for naught,
Or worse, a loathsome plague-the white horse forgot.

Monday, January 18, 2016

After some debate on what I wanted to watch today, I decided
that I needed something that was both thought provoking, yet had enough action
to keep my interest. Yes, that can be a difficult combination to find. What did
I decide on? Well, that would be the 2005 Joss Whedon classic, Serenity.

Plot/ The crew of the ship Serenity tries to evade an
assassin sent to recapture one of their number who is telepathic.

There are times when I need to revisit movies from my past
that have provided some influence on who I am today. One of those is Serenity;
a movie that I believe was never embraced by the mainstream society. This one
has so much to offer featuring a layered storyline, solid effects, and an
atmosphere that will appeal to every emotion. Yes, this is likely considered a
niche movie (and series), as many did not like the western science fiction overtones,
but it is definitely more than that. In the end, this one may not be for
everyone (although it should be), and lives on as a cult classic. For me, I believe
every Sci-Fi fan should give it a shot; it is an amazing movie that should be
seen.

Sunday, January 17, 2016

After a few days, I decided that I needed to be caught up
with some of the films I had watched in recent weeks, but did not find time to
review with everything that is going on. This past week was one of the worse
for that. Next up from that list in the 2013 entry, Bigfoot Chronicles.

Plot/ A skeptical filmmaker is hired to document Bigfoot
sightings. He travels to a hot spot of Bigfoot activity and pursues the wild
beast. Along the way, he learns a lot about the illusive creature and in the
process, he finds himself.

I am all for low budget cinema, especially when it involves
a subject that sits close to my heart. In this case, though, I could have done
without this one. This was one of the worst films on the subject of Bigfoot I
have seen, with the famed creature standing as a mere afterthought to the
dramatic elements and feelings of one of the characters. This one was nothing
like I expected, and offered little to any viewer that was drawn in with title.
The acting is uneven, the production values are lacking, and the make-up
effects for the creature when it eventually makes it way to the screen are
laughable at best. In the end, this was one that I wish I had skipped, there
was nothing redeeming with it at all. Stay away; stay far away!

Friday, January 15, 2016

This was a busy week as I worked on some college stuff and
dealt with a return to the softball schedule. Still, I was able to find some
time to squeeze in some horror into the little time I had. Now, after spending
the early evening with my amazing daughter Genesis at the Fay West Honors Band
concert on her 18th birthday, it was time to get back to the blog. Next up for
review is a movie that was recommended to me during a conversation, and a movie
that I have passed over in the past few weeks, the 2014 horror/thriller Last
Shift.

Plot/ A rookie cop's 1st shift in the last night of a
closing police station alone turns into a living nightmare.

Having seen this one at both the video store and Netflix, I
had passed it over a few times in the past few trips, and I cannot believe that
I did. This one was not at all what I expected from the cover, and was a movie
that was definitely much better than some of my recent selections. Although
this was a low budget entry, it did not fall into many of the same traps that
plague lower budgeted films. Even with a small cast, this one creates an
interesting story that has tremendous pacing, an effective soundtrack, and a
dark and heavy atmosphere. More importantly, it did not shy away from the
horror aspects and used some creative practical effects to create some bloody
and dark visuals. Sure, there were some subtle flaws, with some of the lighting
effects/scares being a touch off the mark and the ending (although perfect for
the storyline) was somewhat predictable considering the smaller cast, but those
are extremely minor in the overall picture and are easily overlooked. In the
end, this low budget flick is well worth watching, and a movie that fans of
horror should check out. It is a lot better than some of the mainstream horror
flicks released in 2014.